There is bipartisan support for legislation ensuring that Missourians cannot be taxed on their federal stimulus checks. Missouri House Budget Committee chairman Cody Smith of Carthage presented his bill Wednesday in Jefferson City, Smith tells lawmakers it’s important to act, noting that under Missouri’s tax code, federal stimulus checks related to COVID are […]
Tag: Missouri
Missouri woman indicted for two armed bank robberies following high-speed police pursuit
A Missouri, woman who led police officers on a high-speed chase down Grand Avenue was indicted by a federal grand jury for two armed bank robberies. Sarah Theresa Watkins, 41, of Kansas City, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment replaces a federal criminal […]
Missouri couple indicted for for sexual exploitation of a child
A Missouri, couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury for producing child pornography. Mark John Millman, 36, a citizen of Great Britain and a legal alien resident, and his wife, Tara Sau Millman, 41, were charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 23. […]
Missouri State Auditor begins citizen requested audit of Marshall School District
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that her office has begun audits of two school districts in western Missouri. The Marshall School District and the Smithville R-II School District’s reviews were requested through petitions submitted by residents of those districts. “The petition audit process allows citizens to demonstrate that they want to be engaged in ensuring […]
Safer Streets Initiative leads to over 500 charges in first two years
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that, to date, his Safer Streets Initiative, which was launched in early 2019, has resulted in 516 charges against 289 defendants across the state. Additionally, 356 firearms have been taken off the streets as a result of the initiative. “Since taking office, prosecuting violent crime in Missouri’s major […]
Governor appoints Trenton resident to Coordinating Board for Higher Education
Governor Mike Parson has appointed a Trenton resident to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. C. Phillip Hoffman’s appointment was one of five appointments Parson announced to boards and commissions on February 24th. Hoffman worked for his family’s agriculture input supply business since 1976. GFG Agriservices acquired the family business in 2014. He and his […]
Trenton man pleads guilty to bad checks; Spickard man waives preliminary hearing on sexual abuse allegation
Rural Trenton resident Jerry Urick, on a plea agreement in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court, has been sentenced, fined, and placed on probation in connection with bad checks from late last year. Urick on Tuesday pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of passing bad checks. Five other counts were dismissed according to […]
Audio: Missouri’s House votes to ban the use of eminent domain to build the Grain Belt Express power line
The House moved to ban the use of eminent domain for a large wind-energy power line planned to span from Kansas to Indiana. In a voice vote on Tuesday, lawmakers approved legislation that would prevent the use of private land for the Grain Belt Express power line without property owners’ permission. The high-voltage […]
Missouri cities, counties in line for millions from federal COVID relief bill
(Missouri Independent) – The plan for distributing money directly to Missouri counties in the current version of the $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus relief bill is pretty simple – each gets $195.44 per person. But for cities, instead of a formula based on population, Congress divvies up the money using the method for determining Community Development Block Grant allocations. […]
Audio: Missouri Senate passes protections against COVID-19 lawsuits
The Missouri Senate has passed a bill that would protect some businesses and organizations from COVID-19 exposure lawsuits. The legislation is designed to protect businesses like health care providers, manufacturers, schools, and churches from such lawsuits in many instances. Under the bill, the lawsuits must be filed within a year of an alleged COVID-19 exposure. […]
Audio: Senator Hawley questions Attorney General nominee on “defund the police”
On Capitol Hill this week, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland. Garland said that getting to the bottom of the January 6th attack on Congress was a priority.
Audio: Missouri Senate puts off vote on giant K-12 education package
After about twelve hours of debate, the Missouri Senate refrained from voting overnight on a contentious K-12 public education package. There was some confusion towards the end that appeared to ultimately lead to the plan getting shelved – at least for now. Several changes were made over the course of the day and night. As […]
North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees address personnel matters at Tuesday meeting
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved multiple personnel matters on Tuesday evening, February 23rd. One personnel matter involved the resignation of the Director of Admissions and Marketing Kristie Cross. Her last day on campus will be March 19th. She will then take vacation time, and her official last day will be May […]
Audio: Jefferson City Council accepts federal money to repurpose parts of prison and neighborhood.
The Jefferson City council has accepted a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to help with the redevelopment of the Missouri State Penitentiary. The penitentiary was opened in 1836 but was decommissioned in 2004. Now the plan is to turn the property into a multi-use space centered around a hotel […]
Audio: Missouri Senate discusses contentious K-12 education package
The Missouri Senate spent about two hours today debating a controversial K-12 public education package today. The plan would expand charter schools statewide and let parents use tax credits to pay for things like private school tuition, tutoring, and school supplies. The comprehensive bill would also set up a process to allow school board members […]
Grundy County Commission appoint health officer; participate in conference with NRCS
The Grundy County Commission appointed a county health officer and participated in a conference call with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representatives regarding a Streambank Stabilization project the morning of February 23rd. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray reports Elizabeth Gibson was reappointed as the county health officer. The commission, Marty Comstock and Dennis Speichenger of NRCS, […]
Hy-Vee pharmacies in Trenton and Princeton offering COVID-19 vaccine
The Hy-Vee pharmacies in Trenton and Princeton have free COVID-19 vaccine available to Missouri residents by appointment. The pharmacies are currently vaccinating those eligible to receive the vaccine according to Missouri’s Phase 1B Tier 2 guidance, which includes anyone at least 65 years old. Schedule an appointment on the Hy-Vee website.
Bill increasing penalties for protesters wins initial approval in Missouri Senate
(Missouri Independent) – Republican state Senators advanced sweeping legislation early Tuesday morning aimed at penalizing protestors who block streets, while also providing further protections for law enforcement under investigation for misconduct or excessive force. The bill also aims to prevent municipalities from decreasing the budgets for law enforcement agencies in Missouri by more than 12 percent over […]
Missouri in line for $4.5 billion from federal stimulus bill
(Missouri Independent) – Last spring, as Missouri businesses shed hundreds of thousands of jobs, Gov. Mike Parson warned that the state was headed for the worst financial crunch since the 2008 recession. Ten months later, Parson presented a budget plan that anticipates a $1.1 billion surplus on July 1, the biggest in state history. And if the $1.9 trillion pandemic […]
Audio: Missouri Conservation Department Director testifies against proposal to increase conservation commission’s size
The Missouri Department of Conservation director has testified against a proposal to increase the size of the Conservation Commission from four to nine, saying it could lead to regional favoritism. Conservation director Sara Parker Pauley testified last (Monday) night during a lengthy House committee hearing in Jefferson City. Conservation director Sara Parker Pauley […]